Babafemi Ojudu, the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed how he and other allies persuaded President Bola Tinubu to reject an offer to serve as Minister of Finance, under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Ohudu, in an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, recalled that Tinubu had called him to inform him of the offer, saying, “Congratulations to me.” Ojudu, puzzled, said he had asked at the time, “Congratulations for what?” to which Tinubu replied that former President Yar’Adua had invited him to join his government as Minister of Finance. Ojudu said he immediately warned Tinubu about the political risks, drawing a parallel to the fate of Bola Ige, the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who was assassinated under controversial circumstances. “You are in Action Congress. Are you not a student of history? Do you not see...

The agency saddled with the exercise should be investigated The recent publication by the Associated Press that quoted leaked documents of the United Nations, that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has failed in its assignment is not entirely surprising considering the lack of accountability in government affairs. But it is nonetheless disturbing that the agency established to clean up crude oil spill contamination in Ogoni, Rivers State, has gulped almost $1 billion without much to show for it. As the AP report pointed out, the HYPREP selected cleanup contractors had no relevant experience, while also sending soil samples to laboratories that didn’t have the equipment for tests they claimed to perform. In addition, auditors were physically blocked from making sure work had been completed. Recognising the human and environmental tragedy associated with oil contamination in the Ogoni region – where oil exploration and production began in the 1950s –...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that “in the absence of visible and concrete efforts at addressing pending issues and meeting its expectations, 2025 will be a year of long-drawn confrontation between the union and the Federal Government.” Describing efforts made by the Federal Government to address its issues last year as window-dressing and cosmetic, ASUU said the FG made no major difference in the university education sector, continued its neglect of the university system and failed to satisfactorily resolve its issues in the year 2024. According to the Chairman of ASUU, Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a statement on Wednesday, the uninterrupted academic calendar in 2024 was a result of the sacrifice of the union not that the government had addressed its impending issues. The union flayed the FG over policy summersault in the 18 years benchmark for admission into tertiary education and asked the President...

28 Dec Popular Nollywood actresses Toyin Abraham and Mercy Aigbe have expressed frustration over reports of some cinemas not showing their latest movies. The actresses took to social media to voice their concerns, urging cinema operators to be fair in scheduling and to ensure equal opportunities for all filmmakers. Mercy Aigbe, in a post on Instagram today,… 27 Dec Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors is a Nigerian epic series of 2024 which revolves around tradition, power and the supernatural. The mini-series focuses on Ilara, Ondo State during the 18th and 19th centuries. In particular, this film was launched on December 13, 2024, and is a collaboration by the three Adebayos – Femi, Tope and Tijani.… 27 Dec The highly anticipated short film Reflections, directed by Tasha Rumi, has officially premiered on YouTube, delivering a powerful narrative on wealth creation in Nigeria. The premiere took place in grand style on December 26,...

There were 16 barren years before the accolade returned to Nigeria with Osimhen in 2023. A new era of Nigerian excellence seems to have ignited the African football scene. Ademola Lookman’s triumph as the 2024 CAF Player of the Year, hot on the heels of Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023, has seen increased excitement and national pride in the green-white-green. These consecutive wins ended a 16-year drought and raised the question: what awakened the sleeping giants? Is there something magical about the Italian leagues where Lookman and Osimhen honed their skills? Or is this a mere coincidence, a fleeting moment of brilliance? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: Nigerian footballers are back on the world stage again. The world watches on for the next chapter in this production line. While it may seem like a coincidence, the fact both Osimhen and Lookman became the finished articles in Italy (Napoli...

A United States-based Nigerian expert in the automotive manufacturing industry, Sunday Aluko, has raised the alarm that hackers are now stealing cars using just a phone camera. Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, Aluko emphasised the urgent need for car manufacturers and owners to adopt robust cybersecurity measures to combat this evolving crime. He noted that with modern vehicles relying heavily on electronic systems, car thieves now exploit vulnerabilities that require no physical tampering. The expert said, “By simply capturing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) displayed on a car’s windshield, they can duplicate keys with an automated VIN to key tools, bypass security systems, and steal vehicles within seconds “The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code stamped on every vehicle, providing essential information such as make, model, and manufacturing history. While the VIN is critical for legitimate purposes like recalls and repairs, it has become a tool...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the return of history as a subject in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. The Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday while reviewing the year 2024 on Channels Television, with focus on education. “President Tinubu has given the directive for the return of history as a subject in primary and secondary schools from the year 2025,” Alausa said. History was removed from the Nigerian school curriculum in 2008. The government replaced history with social studies, government, and civic education. The decision was made due to a number of factors, including: Students avoided the subject, there were few job prospects for history graduates and there was a shortage of history teachers. Meanwhile, quantitative data from existing studies quantified the repercussions of the removal of history from the Nigerian school curriculum in 2008. Research after tracing the evolution of history education in Nigeria...

Until the judgment, Nigeria faced a double whammy, receiving neither its funds nor the military equipment it intended to purchase with the money. Nigeria has won a prolonged legal battle to recover over $6 million in arms funds that had been seized by the United States government since 2014. The funds were seized about a decade ago from an arms broker, who was trying to supply military equipment from the US to Nigeria without having the necessary licence. The US government said the arms broker’s active involvement in the sale, export, and supply of military products to Nigeria without authorisation was a violation of the Arms Export Control Act, leading to the seizure of the funds. However, in a ruling on 23 December, the US District Court for Eastern California ordered the release of the funds totalling about $6.02 million after confirming Nigeria’s interest in it. A copy of the...

Reasons have been adduced for why the Federal Government is yet to convert the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria, the FMC, Umuahia to a teaching hospital. The Chief Medical Director of the FMC Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, who the staff have dubbed ‘Mr. Project’ disclosed that one of the reason is the absence of a conventional federal university that offers medical sciences courses in the state. Onyebuchi stated this while speaking after a two-day programme of Thanksgiving Day and a guided tour of facilities for unions in the centre. Onyebuchi lamented, “FMC Umuahia is the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria and it is a shame that we are not a teaching hospital yet.” He pleaded, “We are appealing to our political leaders in Abia State to come in unison and go fight for the establishment of a conventional university that will be offering Medicine as a field of...

The Vice President of Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Segun Musa, has criticised Nigeria’s approach to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as overly theoretical and ineffective. Musa argued that the government and stakeholders have reduced AfCFTA to mere talk shows and paper presentations, noting that practical strategies and actionable plans are urgently needed to ensure Nigeria participates meaningfully in this continental market. Speaking with maritime journalists, Musa further accused committees overseeing AfCFTA implementation of failing to engage relevant stakeholders effectively. “Their lack of seriousness and practical engagement is a missed opportunity for Nigeria to leverage the agreement,” Musa lamented. He warned that Nigeria’s unpreparedness for AfCFTA could turn the country into a dumping ground for goods from other African nations. He also highlighted Nigeria’s stark deficiencies in manufacturing, industrialisation, and infrastructure, describing the country’s current...